In a program to the commemorate year 2004 as the year
of Scientific Awareness, experts working in the central and eastern
region of Darjeeling have decided to work jointly to improve ecological condition of the
region.
Uma Malkhani of Govind Vallabh Pant
University said that the reasons behind these problems are the excess
use of firewood, fodder source and removal of non-timber forest
products. She also said that another hindrance is the lack of proper
documentation about the area.
There were some positive suggestions including one to move the
Himalayan Study Centre from North Bengal University to Darjeeling
or to establish a new study centre in Darjeeling. This is the result
of the resolution passed by the experts about the establishment
of a mountain study centre in Darjeeling.
Another major problem of the concerned region is the scarcity of
water especially during the summer months. Famous environmentalist
Mr. Harish Mukhia suggested the only remedy to this problem is water
harvesting. It is decided that the Darjeeling Municipality will
soon be requested to implement water harvesting schemes. Mr. Diwedi
also added that the educational institutes of Darjeeling will also
be told to promote their own harvesting schemes. Darjeeling Municipality
will also be requested that the houses which has its own provisions
for water harvesting should only be given the municipal sanction.